Side-split and back-split homes are among the most common residential styles across the GTA — Scarborough, North York, Markham, Richmond Hill, and beyond all have streets full of them. Built primarily between the 1960s and 1980s, these homes have a defining trait: multiple floor levels connected by a short flight of stairs, often with a concrete slab at grade and plywood subfloors on the upper levels. That combination creates real flooring decisions that don't come up with a standard bungalow or two-storey.
Choosing the right flooring for a side-split or back-split home in 2026 means finding products that handle the level changes cleanly, perform well on both concrete and wood subfloors, and look coherent across the open-concept main level while standing up to the specific demands of each zone. Engineered hardwood, SPC vinyl, and laminate are the three categories that do this best — and which one wins depends on where in the home you're installing it.
At Top Floorings Depot (3781 Victoria Park Avenue, Unit 1, Toronto), we stock all three categories in depth, with in-floor heating compatibility, moisture resistance, and a range of price points to match any renovation budget. Here's how to choose correctly for your specific split-level layout.
What Makes Side-Split and Back-Split Homes Different for Flooring?
The core challenge in a side-split or back-split home isn't one floor — it's the transitions. You're often dealing with three or four elevation changes within a relatively open main level: the front entrance may sit at grade, the living area one step up, the kitchen another step up or down, and the basement fully below grade. Each of these zones may have a different subfloor, and the height differential between them typically ranges from a single riser to 24 inches.
That means transition planning is as important as the flooring itself. T-molding, reducer strips, and flush-mount stair nosing all need to be accounted for in material quantities and budget. A second key factor: mid-century split-level homes in the GTA often have concrete slabs at the lower grade level — the foyer, the lower bedroom, the basement rec room. That rules out solid hardwood below grade and means engineered hardwood or SPC vinyl becomes the default for those zones unless you want to install plywood over the concrete first.
A third factor is moisture. Side-splits built on concrete slabs in Scarborough and North York have dealt with decades of seasonal groundwater wicking. If you're replacing flooring in a lower level that had old carpet or damaged vinyl, check the concrete moisture profile before installing anything. An inexpensive moisture test (available at any hardware store, or done by your installer) takes 24 hours and tells you whether you need a vapour barrier or moisture mitigation first.
Engineered Hardwood: The Top Pick for Upper Levels and Living Areas
If your side-split has plywood or OSB subfloors on the main and upper levels — which the majority of GTA splits do — engineered hardwood is the best all-around choice for the living areas, dining room, and upper-level bedrooms. It performs better than solid hardwood in GTA conditions because the layered core construction reduces expansion and contraction with humidity swings, which is the primary cause of gapping and cupping in older Scarborough and Markham homes that may not have had air conditioning installed originally.
For a side-split living room with a 7½" or wider open floor plan, the European Oak engineered hardwood collection at Top Floorings Depot runs from $3.69/sqft to $4.39/sqft depending on wear layer thickness. The 4mm wear layer products (at $4.39/sqft) are the right choice for a primary living area because they can be screened and recoated 2–3 times over their lifespan, extending the floor's life by a decade or more compared to a 2mm product. The 4mm layer also handles the slight unevenness common in original 1960s–70s plywood subfloors better, since the greater structural cross-section resists telegraphing.
For the upper-level hallway or bedroom where you might want a slightly warmer or lighter tone, the European Oak Slate (6.5" wide, 2mm wear layer, $3.69/sqft) is a clean choice — the cool grey tone works well with the original wood trim and brick facades common to GTA side-split exteriors. If you prefer the warm mid-century honey tones, the European Oak Berkley hits that sweet spot between golden and neutral without leaning into orange.
One thing to avoid in side-split upper levels: wide-plank products (10" or wider) that some homeowners specify for visual continuity. In a split-level home with height variations of one to three steps, a 10" plank can look proportionally overwhelming near stair landings and transition doors. The 7½" European Oak products hit the right visual scale for typical GTA split-level proportions.
SPC Vinyl: The Best Option for Lower Levels and Concrete Slabs
For any zone in a side-split that sits at or below grade — the foyer, the lower-level family room, the basement stairs, or the laundry room if it shares the concrete slab — SPC vinyl is the clear winner. Unlike laminate (which can swell if water gets under it), SPC vinyl is 100% waterproof, handles concrete subfloors without any special preparation beyond flatness, and installs as a floating floor with no adhesive required.
The IIC rating on SPC vinyl also matters more in a split-level than in a standard bungalow. When your living room floor is one level above your rec room, footstep sound travels downward more directly through the stair well. The Riche SPC vinyl collection at Top Floorings Depot includes products with IIC ratings up to 73 (for the 8mm with Valinge 5G locking system), which meaningfully reduces footfall noise in multi-level applications. If sound reduction between floors is a priority for your household — especially with a home office or spare bedroom on the lower level — specifying 8mm or 10mm SPC with an attached EVA or IXPE pad makes a noticeable difference.
The Riche 8mm series (starting at $1.64/sqft for the 12mil wear layer products) works well for most lower-level applications. For a side-split rec room with a concrete slab in a basement that may see occasional moisture, the Riche Dark Walnut 8mm SPC vinyl at 5.9" plank width provides a rich, warm tone that contrasts nicely with lighter engineered hardwood upstairs while maintaining visual coherence across the two levels if you extend it up the stairs with a matching reducer strip.
If your side-split lower level is a full basement apartment with a separate entrance, you'll want to specify the 20mil wear layer products — the additional thickness extends the lifespan in a rental or high-traffic multi-tenant scenario where furniture movement and tenant turnover are harder to control.
Laminate: The Smart Budget Option for Upper-Level Bedrooms and Studies
Not every side-split renovation needs to be a full main-floor overhaul. If you're renovating the upper-level bedrooms or a study one step up from the main living area, laminate gives you the hardwood aesthetic at a significantly lower price point — with some caveats.
The most important spec for laminate in a GTA split-level context is AC rating. The AC (Abrasion Criteria) rating, governed by EN 13329 (the European laminate standard), runs from AC1 to AC6. For a bedroom or study in a side-split, AC4 is the minimum you should consider; AC5 is better if the room sees regular foot traffic or is used as a home office. AC3 products will show wear patterns faster in a kids' bedroom or a room that doubles as a play area.
At Top Floorings Depot, the Swiss Krono Witches Wood 14mm AC6 laminate ($0.70/sqft) is the standout recommendation for side-split upper levels — the AC6 rating means it's suitable for commercial as well as residential use, the 14mm thickness provides a solid underfoot feel that rivals engineered hardwood, and the wire-brushed texture hides everyday micro-scratches from pets, shoes, and furniture better than a high-gloss smooth surface would. For a home office or study that also gets weekend use as a playroom, AC6 at 14mm holds up to rolling desk chairs, toys, and pet claws without showing wear prematurely.
The other advantage of laminate over engineered hardwood for upper-level secondary rooms: installation is more approachable as a DIY project if you're doing the work yourself. The Valinge locking system on the Swiss Krono products (K232 and its siblings) holds tightly and resists moisture at the joints better than older click systems. You can install laminate in a weekend over a clean, flat plywood subfloor with nothing more than a pull bar, tapping block, and a crosscut saw.
Solid Hardwood: Where It Works and Where It Doesn't in a Split
Solid hardwood has a place in side-split renovations — but it's narrower than most homeowners assume. The primary use case is the upper-level landing, hallway, and bedrooms where the subfloor is plywood over joists and the home has been treated for humidity control (dehumidifier in summer, humidifier in winter). In a Scarborough side-split built in the 1970s with no central air conditioning, solid hardwood on the upper levels can cup and gap seasonally in ways that engineered hardwood simply doesn't.
If your side-split has had a central HVAC system added or updated, and the upper-level subfloor is solid plywood with no history of moisture problems, solid hardwood works fine. The Canadian-made solid hardwood products at Top Floorings Depot — including Appalachian Red Oak and Hard Maple, Lauzon, MKB, and Seasons — are all ¾" (19mm) thick, tongue-and-groove, and can be refinished 4–6 times over their lifespan. The Appalachian Natural Red Oak (4¼" Excel Grade, $5.39/sqft) is the right call if you want the warm honey-toned mid-century look that matches original side-split trim work without the orange cast of some darker stains.
Do not install solid hardwood below grade under any circumstances in a GTA side-split — the concrete slab at grade level in the foyer or lower bedroom will wick moisture year-round, and no solid hardwood product (regardless of finish) can handle sustained moisture exposure from below. That zone belongs to engineered hardwood at minimum, or SPC vinyl if moisture has been a recurring issue.
Managing Transitions Between Levels: The Detail That Costs You If You Get It Wrong
The most common split-level flooring mistake we see at Top Floorings Depot isn't the flooring itself — it's underestimating transition materials. When you have a main level at one elevation, a split-level foyer three steps up or down, and a basement rec room fully below grade, you're dealing with at least two and often three height differentials that need to be addressed with the right reducer or transition strip.
For engineered hardwood on the main level transitioning to the upper landing, a flush-mount stair nose (not a standard T-mould) is the correct product — it allows the flooring to be cut flush to the top of the riser and the nosing to sit directly on the subfloor, giving a clean look that doesn't trip residents. For the main level transitioning down to an SPC vinyl lower level, a reducer strip bridging the height difference (typically ½" to ¾" depending on the specific products chosen) finishes cleanly.
When we price out a side-split flooring project, we always include transition pieces in the material list — typically one reducer or stair nose per transition point, plus 10% waste on those pieces. For a typical GTA side-split with three transitions, that's usually two to three additional pieces of reducer or nosing, which at $15–$40 per piece adds up to $50–$120 in additional material cost that many homeowners don't budget for.
Our Top Picks at Top Floorings Depot
Based on the specific demands of a GTA side-split home — multi-level transitions, mixed subfloors, mid-century proportions, and GTA humidity — these are the products we'd recommend for a full-floor renovation:
1. European Oak Mocha 4mm (7½" wide) — $4.39/sqft
Wire-brushed character grade, 190mm x 18mm, 4mm top layer. Best for main-level living and dining areas with plywood subfloors. The 4mm wear layer means you can screen and recoat this floor 2–3 times over the next 20 years, extending its life significantly.
2. Swiss Krono Witches Wood 14mm AC6 — $0.70/sqft
German-made, AC6 Ultimate Grade, Valinge locking. Best for upper-level bedrooms, studies, and home offices where you want durability at the lowest price point without sacrificing performance. The wire-brushed texture hides everyday wear better than smooth surfaces.
3. Riche Dark Walnut 8mm SPC vinyl (5.9" plank) — from $1.64/sqft
Valinge 5G locking, IIC 73 / STC 72, 12mil wear layer, attached EVA pad. Best for lower-level foyers, rec rooms, and any concrete-slab zone below grade. Waterproof, sound-dampening, and easy to install as a floating floor.
4. European Oak Slate 6.5" wide, 2mm wear layer — $3.69/sqft
Cool grey tone, wire-brushed character grade. A cost-effective engineered hardwood for upper-level hallways and secondary bedrooms where a slightly thinner wear layer is acceptable but durability and aesthetics still matter.
5. Appalachian Natural Red Oak 4¼" Excel Grade — $5.39/sqft
Canadian-made, ¾" solid, 18.9 sqft/box. Best for upper-level landings and hallways where the subfloor is solid plywood and the home has climate control. Refinishable 4–6 times. Not suitable for below-grade or concrete subfloor applications.
Visit Top Floorings Depot
Side-split and back-split flooring decisions are genuinely more complex than standard two-storey renovations — the multi-level transitions, mixed subfloors, and concrete slab zones require you to think about at least two product categories, not just one. That's exactly why we keep a broad in-stock inventory across engineered hardwood, SPC vinyl, and laminate — so you can see and compare the products in person before deciding.
Top Floorings Depot
3781 Victoria Park Avenue, Unit 1, Toronto, ON M1W 3K5
www.topfloorings.com
Call 416-499-0117 | Text 416-770-8819
Showroom Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:30 PM | Saturday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Sunday Closed
We serve homeowners and contractors across Scarborough, North York, Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Pickering, and Ajax — including the split-level neighbourhoods of Agincourt, Centennial, Bayview Woods, and the Bayview Village corridor. Bring your floor plan or just your measurements when you visit — we'll help you work out the product mix and transition plan before you spend a dollar.
Have you renovated a side-split or back-split home recently? Share your experience with us on Instagram @topflooringsdepotgta or leave us a review on Google — we love seeing before-and-after photos from GTA renovation projects.